Havtru tugged on the royal champion insignia on his jacket. He obviously didn’t like Ven’s advice, and Ven felt bad about that—but he’d feel worse if he was right, hadn’t acted, and the candidates all died, again. “You think the queen of Semo—” Havtru began.
“Or the spirits themselves. Some of them are smart enough to target known candidates. And if the queens lose control...”
“Surely they won’t. We have two! And the death of Queen Naelin’s children—it was a shock, but it was also a one-time event. She’ll recover. She won’t be the same—you can’t be after something like that—but the shock of the moment has passed.”
Ven tried not to flinch at the mention of death. They had all agreed not to let it leak that Queen Merecot had kidnapped the children. Or that she was involved at all. “Just a precaution, Havtru. Humor a paranoid old man.”
The other man almost smiled. “If you’re old, I’m ancient. But yes, I’ll do it. She can tell her headmistress she’s going home to visit family, and I’ll take her to—”
“Don’t say it out loud. Not here. Not even to me.” He hadn’t noticed any spirits in the practice area, but the palace was crawling with them. Better not to take the risk. He didn’t need to know where Havtru would be training his candidate.
“Are you doing the same with your candidate?” Havtru asked.
Ven eyed the course and wondered if he should go again. He hated the way he felt helpless to support Naelin, and he kept thinking how he’d failed Bayn and the children—not only had he not been able to keep Erian and Llor from being kidnapped, but the air spirits who’d attacked them had escaped and Bayn had been lost. Everything about that day had been the stuff of his worst nightmares. He’d been late, like he’d been on the day Greytree, Daleina’s childhood home, was destroyed.I’ll never be too late again,he vowed. “Haven’t taken another candidate,” he said.
Hadn’t even thought about it.
Didn’t want to.
Havtru seemed surprised, even shocked. “But you’re the best! You need to train another candidate—the queens need an heir, a good one.”
Naelin needs me now. And Daleina. I failed the last three queens in one way or another. I don’t know if I can go through that again. What I can do, though, is give you all the time to find the next one.“Train your candidate. But keep her secret, to keep her safe,” Ven said.
“I will,” Havtru promised.
Rather than continue the conversation, Ven jumped off the platform and onto a vine. He started the course again and tried to block out every doubt, every fear, and every emotion he felt.
He tried to move faster than ever.
So he’d never be late again.
After an hour, Ven finished his workout, wiped the sweat from his face and armpits with a towel, and then trudged back into the palace. He bypassed the blue-robed caretakers who fluttered around him, trying to steer him to the baths, and he climbed the spiral stairs toward Naelin’s quarters.
She won’t care if I’m clean or dirty.Her practicality was one of her best qualities. She knew people sometimes sweat and smelled and bled and cried and basically acted human. He didn’t have to be anything other than who he was with her.And if she wants to rage and cry and be human, I’ll be there for her.
That was all he could do right now.
Not that he didn’t wish he could do more.Like march into Semo and steal away Erian and Llor.He hated waiting for someone else to act.
But that wasn’t his call.
In this branch of the palace, the walls were white wood, like the pulpy heart of a tree but polished until it gleamed. Fire spirits kept the sconces burning by dancing from wick to wick, and their shadows writhed on the walls. There were cracks like knife-cut scars that ran through the wood.Probably from Naelin’s earthquake.In more peaceful times, Daleina would have sent tree spirits to heal the hallways.Not exactly a priority now.If anything, they were important reminders that Aratay was far from safe.
Especially while Aratay was still without heirs.
Guards were posted outside of Queen Naelin’s chambers. He nodded to them, but before he could ask them to announce him, a man spoke from down the hall. “She ate one pear and a slice of bread.” It was Renet, slumped against the wall. “At least she’s not starving herself.”
“How long have you been here?”
“I only want to make sure she’s okay.”
Ven turned to one of her guards. “Is she okay?”
The guard nodded crisply. “Yes, Champion. Healer Hamon visited this morning and checked her vitals. She has taken nourishment, and she has slept. But she has requested privacy.”
Ven considered leaving without announcing his presence—if she wanted to be left alone, then she should be, but he also wanted her to know he’d come by.If she decides she doesn’t want to be alone, I want her to know I’m near. We can be impatient together.“She doesn’t have to see me if she doesn’t want to, but could you please tell her I came by to see if she’s all right?”
The guard knocked on the door and relayed the message.
